1830
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Green-blue or White-bellied Swallow is a 1830 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows two swallows mid-flight against a pale sky. The top bird is dark blue with a glossy sheen, while the bottom one is white with gray wings. Their wings are spread wide, and the top bird’s beak touches the other’s back—like they’re playing or feeding. Soft clouds float in the background, and tiny feathers drift near the bottom swallow. The artist used fine lines and shading to make the birds look real. The colors are smooth but not too bright, giving the scene a quiet, natural feel. Want to know more? Look up engraving.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
See the richer artist page
